Political Issues in the United States: Campaign Finance

1,251 adults interviewed online January 14-22, 2016
Field work conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs

Some questions from this survey have been held for later release.

14a. How important are each of these to your ultimate selection of a candidate?

Content of the candidate’s advertising

Extremely	10
Very	18
Somewhat	31
Slightly	18
Hardly at all	12
Not at all	10

Source of campaign financing

Extremely	19
Very	17
Somewhat	29
Slightly	16
Hardly at all	10
Not at all	10

Extent of media coverage

Extremely	9
Very	19
Somewhat	31
Slightly	16
Hardly at all	13
Not at all	12

Candidate’s personal qualities

Extremely	36
Very	33
Somewhat	20
Slightly	6
Hardly at all	2
Not at all	3

The party debates

Extremely	17
Very	25
Somewhat	31
Slightly	13
Hardly at all	9
Not at all	6

The presidential debates

Extremely	22
Very	26
Somewhat	28
Slightly	11
Hardly at all	7
Not at all	5

The primary outcomes

Extremely	19
Very	25
Somewhat	29
Slightly	13
Hardly at all	7
Not at all	6

Candidates’ stand on the issues

Extremely	51
Very	26
Somewhat	15
Slightly	3
Hardly at all	2
Not at all	2

24. To what extent do you agree or disagree that these are problems with elected officials in Washington D.C. today?

They are out of touch with regular Americans interests

Agree completely	48
Agree	38
Disagree	12
Disagree completely	2

They are under the influence of special interests

Agree completely	48
Agree	41
Disagree	8
Disagree Completely	3

They only care about their political careers

Agree completely	45
Agree	43
Disagree	10
Disagree completely	2

They are too partisan and unwilling to compromise

Agree completely	45
Agree	41
Disagree	12
Disagree completely	3

24a. How much have you read or heard about each of the following issues in the United States today?  

Campaign finance reform

Extensive / a lot	10
Quite a bit	15
A fair amount	23
Some	21
Not very much	20
Not at all	10

Declining percentage of eligible citizens actually voting

Extensive / a lot	9
Quite a bit	19
A fair amount	23
Some	21
Not very much	18
Not at all	11

Accuracy of election polls

Extensive / a lot	9
Quite a bit	19
A fair amount	23
Some	22
Not very much	18
Not at all	9

Accuracy of candidate claims

Extensive / a lot	12
Quite a bit	25
A fair amount	25
Some	20
Not very much	12
Not at all	7

Objectivity of media coverage of elections

Extensive / a lot	13
Quite a bit	23
A fair amount	24
Some	19
Not very much	12
Not at all	8

24b. How much do you feel you know about each of the following issues in the United States today?

Campaign finance reform

Extensive knowledge / a lot	7
Quite a bit	17
A fair amount	19
Some	26
Not very much	20
Not at all	12

Declining percentage of eligible citizens actually voting

Extensive knowledge / a lot	8
Quite a bit	17
A fair amount	23
Some	22
Not very much	18
Not at all	12

Accuracy of election polls

Extensive knowledge / a lot	7
Quite a bit	18
A fair amount	23
Some	24
Not very much	20
Not at all	9

Accuracy of candidate claims

Extensive knowledge / a lot	9
Quite a bit	19
A fair amount	25
Some	23
Not very much	16
Not at all	8

Objectivity of media coverage of elections

Extensive knowledge / a lot	11
Quite a bit	23
A fair amount	24
Some	19
Not very much	16
Not at all	8

24c. How important you think each of the following issues are in the United States today?

Campaign finance reform

Extremely Important	23
Very Important	26
Somewhat Important	27
Slightly Important	15
Not very important	7
Not at all important	3

Declining percentage of eligible citizens actually voting

Extremely Important	25
Very important	32
Somewhat important	26
Slightly important	10
Not very important	4
Not at all important	3

Accuracy of election polls

Extremely Important	33
Very important	25
Somewhat important	22
Slightly important	10
Not very important	7
Not at all important	4

Accuracy of candidate claims

Extremely Important	35
Very important	32
Somewhat important	17
Slightly important	9
Not very important	4
Not at all important	2

Objectivity of media coverage of elections

Extremely Important	23
Very important	30
Somewhat important	24
Slightly important	12
Not very important	7
Not at all important	3

25. Do you support or oppose each of the following as a way to limit the impact of special interest money on the political process?     

a. Public financing of elections

Strongly support	21
Support	37
Oppose	29
Strongly oppose	13

b. Lower limits on the amount individuals can donate to candidates

Strongly support	33
Support	45
Oppose	17
Strongly oppose	5

c. Better disclosure requirements for all political contributions

Strongly support	50
Support	38
Oppose	9
Strongly oppose	2

26. Do you support or oppose allowing groups not affiliated with a campaign to spend as much money as they want to elect or defeat political candidates?

Strongly support	10
Support	24
Oppose	38
Strongly oppose	28

27. In 2014, the Supreme Court issued a ruling in the Citizens United case that allowed organizations outside of the campaigns themselves to spend unlimited money on election campaigns.

In view of the Supreme Court’s ruling, would you support or oppose an effort by Congress to reinstate limits on Corporate or union spending on election campaigns?

Strongly support	32
Support	43
Oppose	18
Strongly oppose	7